Day Out With Thomas - May 31, 2008

On Saturday, we went to Tweetsie for our annual Day Out With Thomas (the train) with the Moose's.

Here are Nick and Daddy all aboard Thomas!

Hanging out with some cowboys.

Watching the train leave the station

Riding horses

Brandon, Amanda, & Zach

Scrambling

Nick & his daddy

So tired

Pretending to be an Indian in the teepee

Harris is running a fever, so I'll have to post the rest of the pictures later.

Boating

I feel like I'm always talking about what Harris does. I guess it's because Nick's major baby accomplishments have already been completed. He's an amazing kid too though. His vocabulary is outstanding, and he's just funny.

Here he is ready and handsome for church.

Harris too! The hat lasted less than 5 seconds.

Chris and I have been trying for almost two months to get Nick's swingset together. It will be ready in two weeks. Harris just hung out on the blanket outside while we worked. He's got Nick's buffalo tongue.

Harris had his first boat ride on Memorial Day. It was fantastic once we started going fast.
"Brother, I'm not so sure about this..."


He started standing up as soon as he got the hang of it.


Nick helped his Big Dan drive.

Nick even pushed Harris in the swing. This was before the near drowning incident. Thank goodness Nick was okay.

To finish our day, Nick rode on his new John Deere pedal tractor. Nothing runs like a Deere!

That's what Daddy's do...

I don't usually post twice, but I felt this was special.

Today we went out to the lake for Harrison's first boat ride with Big Dan. All went well, and he had a great time. (I'll post pictures later this week.) When we got back Nick was pushing Harris in the swing on the deck like a good big brother. The next thing I knew, Nick had fallen between the side of the boat and the deck. I rushed to get Nick (who didn't have a life jacket on by this point and can't swim). Chris was already ahead of me. He was on his stomach leaning over the edge grabbing Nick. He pulled him out. Nick was screaming he was so scared. He wasn't the only one. It was my worst nightmare come true. Nick could have drown in those agonizing seconds. I can't imagine what I would have done. Luckily, everything turned out okay. After we'd calmed Nick down I told him to thank his daddy for saving his life. And this is what I'll never forget: Chris said, "Buddy, you don't have to thank me, I'm your daddy. It's my job to keep you safe because that's what daddys do." My heart melted. Not all children are this lucky. My boys and I are very fortunate to have someone like that in our lives. As I kissed both of my children before bed I thanked God for what daddys do.

Peas / Swimming with Zach

I am so glad this week is over. Now that EOG testing is finally finished, I can concentrate on my own children.

Okay, I know people probably think I'm a dork, but I do love dressing my boys alike. I can't wait for July 4 to have them show their patriotic side again. Now they're celebrating Memorial Day a little early.

Harris is 35 weeks old. All of a sudden, he can feed himself. He would much rather make a gigantic mess and mash his food into his tray than have me feed him baby food. Apparently he loves peas just like his big brother.

I'm really not that crafty mom, but on Friday night Nick was running around like a wild man, not listening as usual, so I suggested some fingerpainting. For those of you who regularly read my blog, this IS the same finger paint he used to paint the carpet several months ago. This time we were outside and he had parental supervision.

Look at what an artist he is!


Nick's best friend Zach came over on Saturday to swim in the pool. Harris hung out on the side.

He played with Aunt Amanda and watched the big boys. He'll be chasing after them next summer.

They started in the little pool.

But soon moved to the big pool. It was way too cold for me at 74 degrees. Then again, I'm not a kid anymore.

I think Nick looks like one of the Beatles from the 1960s with his hair all slicked down like this.

A year away from the pool didn't even slow Nick down. As soon as he realized he didn't care how cold the water was, he was jumping off the diving board.




To finish out the evening with a Nickism, they boys decided to pee in the yard together.

Mayfest, Pool, and more...

We had a crazy busy weekend. Saturday, we had a pancake breakfast at the church. Nick LOVES pancakes. I think he ate two entire plates.

Here's Harris sitting in the high chair. Chris's parenting moment of the week came when he put Harris in the chair but didn't strap him in. Halfway through breakfast, there went Harris sliding down through the chair. I caught him right before he hit the floor. Harris apparently loves him some pancakes too.

After breakfast, we headed down to the Newton square for Mayfest. Nick got to feed the camel. I panicked about the germs.

He slid down the GIANT slide.

When he got bored going forward, he began sliding backwards.

Harris just grinned and watched his big brother.

They had this really cool jumper that Nick tried out. Here he is getting strapped in.

Small jumps at first...

Look how high he is. My heart stopped for a few seconds.

We finally let Nick in the pool Saturday afternoon. He's been begging since we opened it last weekend.

This was Harris's first experience in the pool. I was a little scared he might not like the water as much as his brother did.

I was wrong. He is definitely a water baby!

Harris will be 8 months old on Monday. I can't believe it's already been that long. He is an amazing little boy who fills my heart with more and more love each day. He got his third tooth on Friday. This time on the top left. Apparently now that he has all these teeth, he's decided it's time to eat some real food. He devoured a chicken nugget and french fries on Friday night, had pancakes on Saturday morning, and Sunday was the topper. That child ate more pancakes, a whole container of yogurt, some blueberry muffin, and some hashbrowns. He's becoming Lauren Wade the human food consumer. Harris rarely cries and is always smiling and laughing. He gets estatic to see me when I pick him up from daycare and starts waving his arms like a band director. Life is good.

Sunday, we went to the fairgrounds for a tractor show. Nick was in amazement at all the tractors and is now begging his daddy for our big tractors. He and his Big Dan had to look at everything. The only downside was that he couldn't climb on any of them.

He did however, get to ride the Train Tractor which was pretty cool.

And so ends another adventureous week with the Cadwalladers. Say a little prayer for my school children this week as they take their End of Grade tests, and for Chris who smashed his toe taking down our old swing set. He's going to the doctor tomorrow so you know it's pretty serious.

Spring Concert / T-shirt Slogans

I didn't post on Mother's Day, but here are some pictures of my two little guys. It was a wonderful day. Both the boys napped which was my gift. It's been an amazing year adding Harrison to our family. I am so fortunate to have such two healthy, happy and wonderful children.

Nick was not in a picture taking mood.

Tuesday night was our annual spring concert at South Newton Elementary. It was so much fun. Harris and Nick enjoyed listening to the kids sing and play the drums.

After the concert Nick got to play on the drums too.

He and his buddy Jackson have some pretty good rhythm. I guess Chris and I will be getting that drum set for his birthday after all.

Maddie joined the party a little later. In the background is David LaMotte who wrote and sang the book S.S. Bathtub.

Everbody wanted to hold Harrison... Aunt Shelly

Aunt Beth

Once Nick was finished with the drums, the only thing left to do was roll down the hill. What a mess he is!

Harris is 34 weeks old and will 8 months old next week. He isn't officially crawling, but he can move all over the floor by just scooting and circling his body. I'm worried that once he figures out how to get all the movements together, he'll be GONE!

T-shirts are great. You can say a number of things without opening your mouth. Harris's says "Tugging on Grandma's Heart". Guess who bought that one for him?

And Nick's is a proven fact. He is a DIRT MAGNET!

(I bribed him with Skittles to get this picture)